Walking with God this New Year
Truth be told, I found the fifth chapter of Genesis, a bit depressing.
I had no idea how to start the New Year’s study talking about death, but that’s precisely what the entire chapter is about. The genealogy of Adam, how they lived extraordinarily long lives. And then died.
How long? Hundreds and hundreds of years. The oldest human being died at 969 years old - Methuselah, son of Enoch.
And then there’s Enoch, who only lived for 365 years.
Enoch, who actually did NOT die.
Enoch, who walked with God.
Enoch, who had so much faith in the Lord that he was taken up so he should not see death. (Hebrew 11:5)
Enoch, who pleased God.
So pleased was the Lord with Enoch that He spared him from the agony of death. It was as if God just said, “Hey Enoch, c’mon up here, my good and faithful servant!”
What does it mean EXACTLY to walk with God the way that Enoch did?
In Hebrews 11:5-6, Enoch pleased God, and without faith, it’s impossible to please Him.
I don’t know about you, but I admit I’ve had moments when I’ve doubted God before.
If He’ll answer my prayers. If He’ll come through for me at the right time. If He’ll provide when the bills are piling up.
We already know the answer - of course He will! He always does. But worry creeps in, and it’s easier said than done sometimes - to trust in the Lord.
But I believe Enoch never had those doubts, worries, and fears. Instead, he placed his FULL confidence in God + submitted to Him.
He stayed in constant communication with The Lord - praying and listening - so that the outside world and its corruption wouldn’t deceive him of God’s promises.
Can you imagine how liberating that must be?!
To not be moved by the world, and instead follow every Word and every Breath of God. More often than we like to admit, we let the world influence us. Dictate our worth. Define our lives.
And that’s when the worrying over bills creep in. Fears about the outcome of things we can’t control but we try so hard to.
I’m not suggesting to sit and twiddle with your thumbs all day and just let the bills pile up. But what made the difference for Enoch was that in the midst of a corrupted world (similar to the world we know now), he KNEW - without a shadow of a doubt - that God will show up. Provide. Strengthen. Heal. Make new.
He obeyed. He listened. He trusted.
Whether you’ve been walking with the Lord your whole life, or you’ve had the occasional worries and doubts - and at some point, even turned from God like me - this New Year brings excitement to start a new chapter in our journey of faith.
To obey. To listen. To trust.
To have faith and walk with God.
Peace be with you, my gorgeous faithful sister.
